U.S. patent number 10,982,878 [Application Number 16/483,446] was granted by the patent office on 2021-04-20 for indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Invention is credited to Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Katsuya Ishigami, Kazuhito Kojima, Yohei Koyanagi, Shuichi Kuroki, Takuya Niimura, Hiroshi Omura, Den Ozaki.
United States Patent |
10,982,878 |
Hayashi , et al. |
April 20, 2021 |
Indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus
Abstract
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a heat
exchanger which generates conditioned air by carrying out heat
exchange between refrigerant and indoor air; and a drain pan
disposed below a lower end of the heat exchanger to correct dew
condensation water. The drain pan includes at a side portion
thereof: a side dew receiving portion which receives dew
condensation water; and a recessed portion disposed below the side
dew receiving portion, the recessed portion being recessed toward
an other side portion opposite to the side portion. A side face of
the drain pan is provided with a heat insulating sheet covering an
entire opening of the recessed portion.
Inventors: |
Hayashi; Tsuyoshi (Tokyo,
JP), Kojima; Kazuhito (Tokyo, JP), Omura;
Hiroshi (Tokyo, JP), Kuroki; Shuichi (Tokyo,
JP), Koyanagi; Yohei (Tokyo, JP), Niimura;
Takuya (Tokyo, JP), Ishigami; Katsuya (Tokyo,
JP), Ozaki; Den (Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
(Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005499809 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/483,446 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2017 |
PCT
Filed: |
April 14, 2017 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2017/015346 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
August 05, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/189894 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
October 18, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200033024 A1 |
Jan 30, 2020 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
13/22 (20130101); F24F 1/0083 (20190201); F24F
2013/227 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
13/22 (20060101); F24F 1/0083 (20190101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
104024759 |
|
Sep 2014 |
|
CN |
|
S58-119111 |
|
Aug 1983 |
|
JP |
|
H10-009604 |
|
Jan 1998 |
|
JP |
|
2006-125777 |
|
May 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2010121872 |
|
Jan 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2010-121872 |
|
Jun 2010 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
Office Action dated Aug. 5, 2020 issued in corresponding CN patent
application No. 201780087842.7 (and English translation). cited by
applicant .
Extended European Search Report dated Feb. 26, 2020 for the
corresponding EP application No. 17890846.3. cited by applicant
.
International Search Report of the International Searching
Authority dated Jun. 20, 2017 for the corresponding international
application No. PCT/JP2017/015346 (and English translation). cited
by applicant .
Office Action dated Feb. 22, 2021 issued in corresponding CN patent
application No. 201780087842.7 (and English translation). cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Duke; Emmanuel E
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Posz Law Group, PLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus comprising: a
heat exchanger configured to generate conditioned air by carrying
out heat exchange between refrigerant and indoor air; and a drain
pan disposed below a lower end of the heat exchanger to correct dew
condensation water, wherein the drain pan includes at a side
portion thereof: a side dew receiving portion configured to receive
dew condensation water; and a recessed portion disposed below the
side dew receiving portion, the recessed portion being recessed
toward an other side portion opposite to the side portion, and
wherein a side face of the drain pan is provided with a heat
insulating sheet covering an entire opening of the recessed
portion.
2. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the drain pan includes, at a central portion thereof, a
central dew receiving portion configured to receive dew
condensation water, the side dew receiving portion includes a
connecting portion having an inner wall, the inner wall defining a
drain port, and the recessed portion is recessed at least up to a
position at the inner wall, the position being most proximal to the
central dew receiving portion.
3. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 2,
wherein the recessed portion includes a surrounding wall which
covers a lower face of the side dew receiving portion, with space
provided between the surrounding wall and the lower face, and the
surrounding wall includes a plurality of ribs protruding into the
space.
4. The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the recessed portion includes a surrounding wall which
covers a lower face of the side dew receiving portion, with space
provided between the surrounding wall and the lower face, and the
surrounding wall includes a plurality of ribs protruding into the
space.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a U.S. national stage application of
International Application No. PCT/JP2017/015346, filed on Apr. 14,
2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus, more specifically, to a countermeasure
against dew condensation on a drain pan.
BACKGROUND
Conventionally, countermeasures against dew condensation have been
applied to a drain pan installed in an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus (for example, see Patent Literature
1).
Patent Literature 1 discloses a countermeasure against dew
condensation on a drain pan. In the countermeasure, the drain pan
is made to have a hollow cross section in its central portion, and
a groove is formed at a lowermost section in the central portion.
This produces a heat insulating effect on the central portion of
the drain pan, preventing dew condensation on the drain pan.
PATENT LITERATURE
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application
Publication No. S58-119111
In Patent Literature 1, while a countermeasure against dew
condensation is applied to the central portion of the drain pan, it
is not applied to a side portion of the drain pan. This gives rise
to a problem in that dew condensation easily occurs at the side
portion of the drain pan.
SUMMARY
The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and
aims to provide an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus
that is capable of preventing dew condensation on a side portion of
the drain pan.
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention includes: a heat exchanger
configured to generate conditioned air by carrying out heat
exchange between a refrigerant and indoor air; and a drain pan
disposed below a lower end of the heat exchanger to collect dew
condensation water. The drain pan includes at a side portion
thereof: a side dew receiving portion configured to receive dew
condensation water; and a recessed portion disposed below the side
dew receiving portion, the recessed portion being recessed toward
an other side portion opposite to the side portion. A side face of
the drain pan is provided with a heat insulating sheet covering an
entire opening of the recessed portion.
In the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention, the drain pan includes a
recessed portion disposed below a side dew receiving portion, and a
heat insulating sheet provided at a side face of the drain pan.
This produces a high heat insulating effect on the side portion of
the drain pan, preventing dew condensation on the side portion of
the drain pan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention as viewed from a front side.
FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment
of the present invention as viewed from a right side.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drain pan of the indoor unit of
the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the
present invention as viewed from the front side.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a right side portion of the drain pan as
shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a back view of the right side portion of the drain pan as
shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the right side portion of the drain
pan as shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the front side.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the right side portion of the drain pan as
shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 8 illustrates a state where a heat insulating sheet is
attached to a right side surface of the drain pan as shown in FIG.
4.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view for explaining an air layer formed
inside the right side portion of the drain pan as shown in FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described
hereinafter with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that
the present invention is not limited to the embodiment explained
below. It also should be noted that a relationship in size between
components as shown in the drawings may be different from the
actual one.
EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit 100 of an
air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the
present invention as viewed from a front side. FIG. 2 is a
schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 100 of
the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the
present invention as viewed from a right side.
Hereinafter, a construction of the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2.
In the following explanation, terms indicating directions such as
"up", "down", "right" and "left" are used as necessary to
facilitate understanding. However, these terms are used for
explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the present
invention. Also, with respect to the embodiment, the terms "up",
"down", "right" and "left" are used to indicate respective
directions when the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning
apparatus is viewed from the front side.
The indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
the embodiment supplies conditioned air to an air-conditioned area,
such as a room, by using a refrigeration cycle circulating
refrigerant. The embodiment is explained by referring to by way of
example the case where the indoor unit 100 is a wall-mounted type
indoor unit to be mounted on a wall of an air-conditioned area.
As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit 100 includes a rear case 1
mounted on a wall, and a housing 2 attached to a front surface of
the rear case 1. The housing 2 has an air inlet 3 for mainly taking
indoor air into the housing 2, and an air outlet 4 for supplying
conditioned air to the air-conditioned area. Additionally, a front
design panel 5 is openably attached to a front surface of the
housing 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 100 accommodates therein an
air-sending fan 6 configured to take in indoor air from the air
inlet 3 and blowing conditioned air through the air outlet 4, and a
heat exchanger 7 which is disposed on an air path between the air
inlet 3 and the air outlet 4 with its longitudinal direction
extending along a left-right direction, and which is configured to
generate conditioned air by carrying out heat exchange between a
refrigerant and the indoor air. These components define an air
communication path in the housing 2. The indoor unit 100 further
includes therein an electric component box (not shown) which
accommodates a circuit board and other components, and a drain pan
10 disposed below a lower end of the heat exchanger 7 to collect
dew condensation water from the heat exchanger 7. The drain pan 10
will be described later in detail.
The air inlet 3 is formed in an upper portion of the housing 2 as
an opening. The air outlet 4 is formed in a lower portion of the
housing 2 as another opening. The air-sending fan 6 is disposed
downstream of the air inlet 3 and upstream of the heat exchanger 7,
and is an axial fan or a mixed flow fan, for example. The heat
exchanger 7 is inverted V-shaped or A-shaped in vertical cross
section, and is disposed on the leeward of the air-sending fan 6.
The heat exchanger 7 may be a fin tube-type heat exchanger, for
example. The air inlet 3 is provided with a finger guard and a
filter (not shown). Further, the air outlet 4 is provided with a
vertical wind direction adjusting plate 8 for controlling a blowing
direction of air flow.
It is not necessarily set that the heat exchanger 7 is strictly
inverted V-shaped or A-shaped in vertical cross section. Also, the
air-sending fan 6 is not limited to one disposed upstream of the
heat exchanger 7. A cross-flow fan disposed downstream of the heat
exchanger 7 may be applied as the air-sending fan 6.
Next, air flow inside the indoor unit 100 will be briefly
explained.
First, indoor air is sent by the air-sending fan 6 into the indoor
unit 100 through the air inlet 3 formed in the upper portion of the
housing 2. At this time, dust contained in the indoor air is
removed by the filter (not shown). While passing through the heat
exchanger 7, this indoor air is heated or cooled by the refrigerant
inside the heat exchanger 7 to become conditioned air. The
conditioned air is then blown out to the outside of the indoor unit
100, namely a to-be-air-conditioned area, through the air outlet 4
formed in the lower portion of the housing 2.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drain pan 10 of the indoor unit
100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment
of the present invention as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a
plan view of a right side portion 10b of the drain pan 10 shown in
FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a back view of the right side portion 10b of the
drain pan 10 as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of
the right side portion 10b of the drain pan 10 as shown in FIG. 3
as viewed from the front side. FIG. 7 is a side view of the right
side portion 10b of the drain pan 10 as shown in FIG. 3. Broken
lines A and B respectively shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 each indicate a
boundary between a central dew receiving portion 11a and a side dew
receiving portion 11b. An arrow C in FIG. 5 will be described
later.
The drain pan 10 is disposed below the lower end of the heat
exchanger 7, and collects dew condensation water adhering to the
heat exchanger 7 during cooling operation of the indoor unit 100.
The drain pan 10 has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7.
As shown in FIG. 3, the drain pan 10 includes a dew receiving unit
11 for receiving dew condensation water. The dew receiving unit 11
comprises: the central dew receiving portion 11a, which is located
on a central portion 10a of the drain pan 10; and the side dew
receiving portion 11b, which is located on each side portion 10b of
the drain pan 10. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a connecting
portion 12 to which a drain hose (not shown) is to be connected is
provided on a rear side of the side dew receiving portion 11b). The
connecting portion 12 includes a cylindrical inner wall 13 and a
drain port 14 defined by the surrounding inner wall 13.
A flow path extending in the left-right direction and communicating
with the side dew receiving portion 11b is formed on an upper
surface of the central dew receiving portion 11a. Additionally, a
flow path extending in a front-back direction and communicating
with the drain port 14 is formed on an upper surface of the side
dew receiving portion 11b.
When installed, the indoor unit 100 is inclined with respect to a
horizontal direction. Accordingly, the drain pan 10 is also
inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. More
specifically, upper surfaces of the central dew receiving portion
11a and the side dew receiving portion 11b are inclined in a
direction in which the indoor unit 100 is inclined, and also toward
the rear side.
Thus, dew condensation water adhering to the heat exchanger 7
during cooling operation of the indoor unit 100 drops on the upper
surface of the central dew receiving portion 11a, moves to the
upper surface of the side dew receiving portion 11b inclined
downward with respect to the horizontal direction, and is then
drained to the outside of the indoor unit 100 from the drain port
14 of the connecting portion 12 through the drain hose.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the drain pan 10 includes, at the side
portion 10b thereof, a recessed portion 15 below the side dew
receiving portion 11b. The recessed portion 15 is recessed toward
the side portion 10b on the opposite side. The recessed portion 15
includes a surrounding wall 16. The surrounding wall 16 covers a
lower face of the side dew receiving portion 11b, with space
provided between them. The surrounding wall 16 includes plural ribs
17 protruding into the space.
FIG. 8 illustrates a state where a heat insulating sheet 20 is
adhered to the right side face of the drain pan 10 as shown in FIG.
4. FIG. 9 is a schematic view for explaining an air layer 21 formed
inside the right side portion 10b of the drain pan 10 as shown in
FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 8, a heat insulating sheet 20, which is a heat
insulating material, is attached to the side face of the drain pan
10 in such a manner as to cover an entire opening of the recessed
portion 15. As a result, a hollow air layer 21 is formed between
the recessed portion 15 and the heat insulating sheet 20, as shown
in FIG. 9. Since thermal conductivity of air is extremely low, the
air layer 21 functions as a heat insulating material having a high
heat insulating effect. Thus, by virtue of the heat insulating
sheet 20 and the air layer 21, a high heat insulating effect can be
produced.
After collected by the drain pan 10, dew condensation water always
passes through the side dew receiving portion 11b when it is
drained from the drain port 14. For this reason, dew condensation
water tends to accumulate on the side dew receiving portion 11b.
Further, dew condensation water flows on the side dew receiving
portion 11b more slowly than on the central dew receiving portion
11a, as a result of which dew condensation easily occurs at the
side dew receiving portion 11b. It is therefore necessary to take
thorough measures dew condensation on the side dew receiving
portion 11b. However, because of the heat insulating sheet 20 and
the air layer 21, a high heat insulating effect can be produced at
the side dew receiving portion 11b, and dew condensation can thus
be prevented from occurring at the side dew receiving portion
11b.
Further, the heat insulating sheet 20 is made of polystyrene foam,
which is commercially available as an inexpensive resin-based heat
insulating material. The heat insulating sheet 20 originally has a
sheet shape, and is cut according to a shape of the side face of
the side dew receiving portion 11b. Polystyrene foam is soft and
easy to cut with a tool such as scissors and a cutter. Further, the
heat insulating sheet 20 has an adhesion surface on at least one
side thereof.
Thus, since the heat insulating sheet 20 is used as a heat
insulating material for the side dew receiving portion 11b, it
eliminates the need for die casting, which has previously been
required, and also can be more easily attached to the side face of
the drain pan 10. This can reduce manufacturing costs.
Further, the plural ribs 17 are provided at the surrounding wall 16
of the recessed portion 15, such that adhesion areas between the
heat insulating sheet 20 and the side face of the drain pan 10 are
increased when the heat insulating sheet 20 is attached to the side
face of the drain pan 10. As a result, the heat insulating sheet 20
can be more easily attached to the side face of the drain pan
10.
Additionally, the recessed portion 15 is recessed at least up to a
position at the inner wall 13 of the connecting portion 12 that is
most proximal to the central dew receiving portion 11a (a position
indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 5).
This is to form the air layer 21 in an entire lower part of the
drain port 14, on which dew condensation most easily occurs. It
should be noted that the recessed portion 15 may be recessed at
most up to the boundary between the central dew receiving portion
11a and the side dew receiving portion 11b. This is because the
central dew receiving portion 11a does not require the air layer 21
for heat insulation since dew condensation water flows faster on
the central dew receiving portion 11a than on the side dew
receiving portion 11b and thus sufficient heat insulation for the
central dew receiving portion 11a can be ensured by means such as
affixing a heat insulating material (not shown) to a lower surface
of the central dew receiving portion 11a.
As explained above, the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to the embodiment includes: the heat exchanger
7 configured to conditioned air by carrying out heat exchange
between refrigerant and indoor air; and the drain pan 10 disposed
below the lower end of the heat exchanger 7 to collect dew
condensation water. The drain pan 10 includes, at the side portion
10b thereof, the side dew receiving portion 11b for receiving dew
condensation water, and the recessed portion 15 disposed below the
side dew receiving portion 11b and recessed toward the other side
portion 10b on the opposite side of the side portion 10b. The heat
insulating sheet 20 is provided at the side face of the drain pan
10 in such a manner as to cover the entire opening of the recessed
portion 15.
The indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
the embodiment includes the recessed portion 15 disposed below the
side dew receiving portion 11b of the drain pan 10, and the heat
insulating sheet 20 provided at the side face of the drain pan 10.
This can produce a high heat insulating effect on the side dew
receiving portion 11b, preventing dew condensation on the side dew
receiving portion 11b.
Further, the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to the embodiment includes, at the side dew receiving
portion 11b, the connecting portion 12 having the inner wall 13
defining the drain port 14. The recessed portion 15 is recessed at
least up to a position at the inner wall 13 that is most proximal
to the central dew receiving portion 11a.
In the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according
to the embodiment, the air layer 21 is formed in the entire lower
part of the drain port 14, on which dew condensation most easily
occurs. This can produce a high heat insulating effect on the side
dew receiving portion 11b.
Further, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to the embodiment, the recessed portion 15 includes the
surrounding wall 16 covering the lower face of the side dew
receiving portion 11b, with space provided between them. The
surrounding wall 16 includes the plural ribs 17 protruding into the
space.
In the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according
to the embodiment, because of the plural ribs 17, adhesion areas
between the heat insulating sheet 20 and the side face of the drain
pan 10 are increased when the heat insulating sheet 20 is adhered
to the side face of the drain pan 10. As a result, the heat
insulating sheet 20 can be easily attached to the side face of the
drain pan 10.
* * * * *